Announcement

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will meet on October 20–21, 2020, to consider and develop proposed regulations for the 2021–22 migratory game bird hunting seasons.  Meetings on both days will commence at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) and are open to the public.

Meeting:  Due to continuing concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the October 20–21, 2020, meetings will be conducted telephonically with or without the aid of video technology.  You can watch the meeting live at the following links:

•  October 20
•  October 21

Accommodation requests:  The Service is committed to providing access to the SRC meeting for all participants and observers.  Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodation needs by close of business on October 9, 2020.  If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jerome Ford, Assistant Director, Migratory Birds, (202) 208–1050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Under the authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712), the Service regulates the hunting of migratory game birds.  We update the migratory bird hunting regulations, located in title 50 of the Code of Federal regulations in part 20, annually.  Through these regulations, we establish the frameworks, or outside limits, for season lengths, bag and possession limits, shooting hours, and areas for migratory game bird hunting.  These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.  Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds.

To help us manage migratory birds and the process of developing migratory bird hunting regulations, we have administratively divided the nation into four Flyways (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific).  Each Flyway has a Flyway Council, a formal organization generally composed of one member from each State within the Flyway, as well as Provinces and Territories in Canada that share migratory bird populations with the Flyway.  Representatives from the Service, the SRC, and Flyway Council Consultants conducted an open meeting on April 28, 2020, to discuss preliminary issues for the 2021–22 regulations, and will convene the October 20–21, 2020, meetings to review information on the current status of migratory game birds and develop recommendations for 2021–22 hunting regulations for these species.  In accordance with Departmental policy, these meetings are open to public observation. Transcripts from this meeting will be available, and results of deliberations will be published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register in late 2020 or early 2021.